Wedge-actuated clamp



y 3 5 D. F. WOLFE 2,596,635

WEDGE-ACTUATED CLAMP Filed Jan. 4, 1949 INVENTOR DAV/D F. WOL FE ATTORNEYS Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEDGE-ACTUATED CLAMP David F. Wolfe, New York, N. Y. Application January 4, 1949, Serial No. 69,077

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fastening devices, more particularly to a novel clasp or clamp which is wedge-actuated.

An object of the invention is to provide a small, compact clamping device particularly adapted for use as a substitute for safety pins in fastening babies diapers and other infants clothing, bedding and the like.

Another object is to provide a clamp having a smooth, rounded external contour without any protruding parts or sharp corners on which an infant might accidentally injure himself.

A further object is to provide a clamp which may be made economically from parts of molded synthetic resins and which is capable of being washed and sterilized without corroding.

Other objects and advantages of the fasten- ,ing device of the invention will in part appear and in part will be obvious from the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of in closed position;

Fig. 2 illustrates the clamp in use as a diaper fastening;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the clamp in partially open position with its actuating wedge partially withdrawn;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the clamp in closed position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation as seen from the right of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4 illustrating the jaw opening spring;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the jaws of the clamp showing one form of hinge construction and one form of means for slidably holding the wedge in place on the jaw;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail showing an alternative means for holding the wedge in place on the jaw;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the wedge as seen from its under side; and

Figs. 11 and 12 are side elevations of the central portions of the wedge showing modified means for gripping the wedge.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated embodiment of the clamp of the invention comprises two jaws l5 and I6 which are longer than they are wide and generally concavo-convex in crosssection, the jaw l5 having an integral hinge element l8 extending outwardly from its concave a complete clamp as seen from the left side parallel to the long sides of the jaw, the jaw l6 being provided with a complementary hinge element l9 having parts fitting in the spaces ll of the element l8. The hinge elements are perforated as shown at 20 and the two jaws are pivotally connected by means of a hinge pin 2|. The pin may be secured against removal in any suitable way by upsetting its ends. The hinge elements are spaced closer to the upper edges of the jaws than to their lower edges, which are shown at 22 and 24. These lower edges are preferably formed with serrations or complementary undulations to improve the holding power of the clamp when used on such soft materials as cloth.

The shorter upper portion of each jaw, which lies above the hinge elements as shown in the drawings, is provided with a wedge-receiving seat. In the embodiment shown, the jaw l5 has a fiat seat 25 terminating in an undercut upstanding side wall 26. The seat 25 is in a plane above and parallel to the hinge line and is wider at the forward end of the jaw, as shown in Fig. 8, than at the rear end. The side wall 26, which extends upwardly and inwardly, is disposed longitudinally at an angle to a plane defined by the hinge line and the lower edge 22 of the jaw. Jaw I6 is provided with a similar fiat seat 26, which may be somewhat narrower than theseat 25, and with an undercut side wall 29 which has the same degree of angularity as the side wall-28 but oppositely directed so that the side walls 26 and 29 converge from one end of the clamp to the other. a

Coacting'with the converging sidewalls 26 and 29 is awedge 30 having beveled sides 3| and 32 which converge at an angle corresponding to that formed between the side walls 26 and 29. To facilitate manipulation of the wedge, it is provided on its upper surface with a lug 34. Alternatively the lug may be replaced by a series of ridges 35 shown in Fig. 11 on the wedge 30a, or by a slight depression 36 shown on the wedge 30b in Fig. 12.

To permanently mount the wedge in the clamp so that it cannot be removed, it is attached to one of the jaws, for example by means of an L-shaped slot 38 formed in the underside of the wedge, parallel to the side 3|, and engaging an L-shaped rib 39 extending a short distance inwardly from one end of the jaw parallel to the side wall 26, as shown in Fig. 8. The wedge is slipped over this rib prior to assembly of the two jaws, and since the slot 38 ends short of the small end 40 of the wedge 30 (see Fig. 10),

the wedge cannot be wholly withdrawn from the jaws. Neither can it be removed from the jaws by moving in the opposite direction, due to the fact that when the clamp is in closed position as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the wedge reaches its maximum inward movement when the jaws are in meeting engagement.

Referring to Fig. 9, a substitute is shown for the wedge holding means just described. A headed'fiinll i ed in the new I-5aand itsfhefad coacts with a T -slo't 42 in thewedg 300. The pin is so located and the slot 42 is of such extent as to limit the extent of withdrawal of the wedge. In Fig. '7 there is shown a bent wife "spring '44 which surrounds the hinge pin 2| centrallyof'the clamp in a space provided between a pair of hinge elements, Spring 44 is so biased as to urge the jaws into open position, acting in opposition to the closing force exerted by the wedge, so that as w e is withdraw th w w p ;From the foregoing description of the cons tua on, the operation of the novel clamp of the invention will beapparent. Due to the gradual taper of the wedge and thecorresponding convergnc of the sidewalls with which it ena poweriulgripping force is applied which requires verylittle exertion in th operation of the-clamp {To open the clamp the wedge 30 is slid outwardiy as far as it will go, whereuponthe .jawsare opened by spring M. In the embodirne jshown th e wedge remains attached to one oi -fth e jaws and the other jaw; upon being disengaged by the wedge, is capableof relativeopening movement, the narrower seat on the lastmentioned jaw (seat 28, for example) clearing thejadjaoent side-of the wedge; The material to 'be clampedisthen inserted between the gripping edges of the-elamp and the wedge is then pushed inwardly, acting on the converging side walls of the Jaws to close them'on the material.

Itwili be noted that as the wedge moves in a direction parallel to the hinge line, the relative angular relation of the walls on the jaws which it engages remainsthe same and hence the wedge atalltimeshas a line contact with thejaws'which distributes the strain; whereas in prior devices having wedges which move'inaplaneperpendicu- .lar to the hinge line the angle between the jaw .iparts which engagethe wedge is. constantly changing andcan beinalignment with the-sides o'fthe wedge in-onlyone-position. w

he nia-mp herein described is particularly designed for use as a diaper fastening. Its rounded contour and theabsence of sharp elements or .projotionsmakes it a saiejfastening for this purp se. Made oi'plastic, it' is readily washable and fivilliio't corrode. The only parts requiring the ot metal are'thehinge pin andspring and these may be. made of or plated with corrosion resistant. metals. It is not limited to use as a fastener, of course, but may be used as a plh di h? a... 9..Q ?P.1Q l. any other P111" 'posewhere clamping is desired.

The invention is not to be construed as limited to the precise details of construction illustrated and de'scribed'since various modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp comprising a pair of opposed jaws of greater length than width, an integral hinge element extending outwardly from the inner face of each jaw parallel wand-intermediate its longer sides, the opposed portions of each jaw on one side of said hinge elements having longitudinally extending converging wedge-receiving seats, said hinge elements being rotatably interconnected, a wedge slidable in a direction parallel to the axis or rotation of said hinge elements and coacting with said seats to move the portions of said jaws on the other side of said hinge elements toward one another, and means slidably attaching said wedge to one of said jaws.

2. A clamp comprising a pair of opposed jaws of greater length than width, an integral hinge element extending outwardly from the inner face of each jaw parallel to and intermediate its longer sides; the opposed .portions of each jaw on one side of said hinge elements having longitudinally extending converging wedge-receiving seats, said hinge elements being rotatably interconnected, a wedge slidable in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said hinge elements and coasting with said seats to move the portions of. said jaws on the otherside of said hinge elements toward oneanother, said wedge having on its under side an angular slot parallel to one edge, and an element on one of said jawshaving a head engaging said slot to slidably secure the wedge against removal;

4 3. A clamp comprising a pair of complementary jaws of greater length than width, an integral hinge elementextending outwardly from the inner side of each jaw parallel to its longer'side and dividing it into portions of unequal width, the shorter portion of each jaw having a longitudinally extending angularly disposed wedge receiving seat including an undercutside-wall; ahinge pin extending through said hinge elements, and a wedge having bevelled edges adapted to engage said side walls-and slidable in a-direction parallel to said pin and coacting with-said'seats to force the :longer portions of said jaws toward one another.

DAVID F. WGLFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are' of record in the file of this patent;

UWITED STATES PATENTS Marx Feb. 24, 1914- 

